The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-06
ORDEAL BY FIRE.

OlIDDAL Dl IllEs
The lightning express was leaping madly
over bridges and around curves, as If bent
on self-destruction. The engine, with its
eye and heart of fire, careered over the
dizzy heights Of lofty trestles like some
sentient thing, glorying in sense Of
danger.
But the speed was tame to Emily Fow-
Ter, with that throbbing impatience in her
veins.
"Come at once; he wishes to sec you be-
fore he dies" the telegram had said. Oh,
would the train never reach the city! He
was dying-dying under shadow, and
she was the cause. II he could but live
month, q week, even single day longer,
until her confession should flash around
the world, soaring, as with tongue Of
flame, the slander that had plucked him
from his high place among his fcllowsl
At last she stood on the platform of the
depot, In the midst of the city's gloom and
roar. She had a shrinking fear of recog-
milton, though she had been stranger to
her native place five years,
She took carriage to W. street, in
the suburbs. Within n few blocks of the
house she paid the man and dismissed
him, then walked up to the gate that
opened upon the rather spacious grounds,
The hospitable, old fashioned house stood
under the shade of bpttonwood trees.
The hall was brightly lighted, and the
windows Of the chamber where he was
lying CLEANED dimly,
She rang the bell and waited. Was it
in some other life she had used to walk in
there to seek counsel and sympathy from
him, her pastor, when his gentle faced
sister, now dead, had met her with warm
solicitude, and when he was sailing upon
the crest Of the wave Of popularity in the
full perfection Of his splendid powers.
A quiet, middle aged woman opened
the door. She was his housekeeper. "Mrs.
Fowler" she said, inquiringly. eyes"
in answer to the anxious inquiry in the
eyes Of the unhappy lady, she is yet
living" and she led the way into the dim
parlOr, then went upstairs to announce
the visitor.
How familiar the surroundings seemedi
His trouble had not uprooted him from
the spot that was his by inheritance. He
had lived here recluse since the death Of
his sister, with his books and literary
work, He stood no longer at the sacred
desk, He had steadily refused the large
Inducements offered him by lecture bu-
reaus, refusing to trade on his blackened
reputation.
The housekeeper returned and con-
Quoted her up stairs. The nurse went out
as she entered, and the two were left
alone together for the last act Of the
tragedy.
The room was large and lofty, with
dark window drapery sweeping from the
ceiling to the floor. The dark walls were
ht1u with Mt har
Lear wrestling In the midnight tempest
with his awful madness and despair
Gregory Bancroft lay there with the tall
bedstead towering above his head, a
massive Titan Of majestic soul. The
strong, grand face bore the impress Of his
grief. Yet his mighty heart had not
broken. 1t had expanded with its great
throes of sorrow until it was ready to be
born into new kingdom.
She stood beside the bed. He reached
out q hand, as II to welcome her,
~ cannot take your handy she cried,
t'Your life has been ruined through me,
How can you forgiven"
She was kneeling beside the bed with
clasped hands and face Of anguish, In
strong contrast to the high, almost
sublime, expression Of the face on the
pillow.
''How can forgiven Because I have
absolved you in my thoughts, he said
81 know that 1t was the overmasteripl
will of your husband that made you th'
instrument Of wrong to me, l knew tha
| you were not morally responsible for tht
lie wrung from you on your sick bed.
understood your peculiar organization fal
better than you knew! knew you coult
be compelled, mesmerized by a stronger
will, in certain nervous states that rem
dered you highly susceptible"
She looked at him with kind of din
wonder that he had SO truly interpreted
the situation.
sBut you did not know" she hastenet
to say, 'you did not know what a cowart
became when was once more mistres
Of myself and became aware what q tissu
OF falsehoods had been woven to ensnar
you. Ideclared would speak AMI do m,
share toward righting the wrong, H
threatened to confine me in an insan
asylum, | knew he would fulfill hi
threat. 1t seemed to me ut last that
was insane He held me under the bond
age of his will But will make the con
fession now, though he kill me-"
Gregory Bancroft had thought himsel
above emotion, and that the high, hol
calm that had come to him after the cor
tlict could not again be broken by o sigh
Of the woman he once loved. But he ha
miscalculated his strength. The magnif
cent organization that had touched cart
at SO many points--the powerful, passion
ate nature was stirred again to its depth.
She was one Of those slight, seemingl
fragile women who, with no apparent pt
tent physical charm, are yet possessed {
some strange magnetic power over tn
lives Of the strong and self sufficiel
among men, a power as inexplicable as
is unconscious to themselves.
She lifted her head from the bed an
met his eyes, Something in them unseals
her Ups. m
fess it now In the awful presence Of dealt
and let God be my judge. was an u
loved wife. learned to love the air "
breathed. You seemed high and graz
and passionless. was safe.
worshiped you. It was heaven to tou,
your hand. Oh, God, that
should have been the cause Of your rain
eyes" he said, with strong effort
be calm, II knew you were mine. kne
that every pulse and fiber was under Il
control. knew that by the laws Of o
being you belonged to ms, and that had
asked you to flee with me to the uttermc
isles Of the sea you would have consente
without counting the cost You thoug
I was grand and passionless, that as Coz
high priest was beyond temptation. Y
never knew what 1t, at least, cost me
meet you and give you counsel, nor HI
the sensual and earthly fought for sup
macy over the spiritual in my soul =
I wrestled and prayed, and the strene
came to put passion under my feet.
conquered. A light from the face Of
infinite shane upon me. moved in cal
clear air, stood before my people O
, looked into their upturned faces witt
new sympathy for their weakness. b
them on my heart in prayer, before
throne, with added tenderness.
81 looked upon your face and thanl
God that you were safe from me, tha
had not transgressed against you nor
man who was once my friend. In
midst Of the calm the conspiracy agai
me was revealed suddenly. found
: self the victim Of network Of circr
y, stances, my fair fame dishonored, my
an dragged into the publicity Of a cour
,e. law and made the subject Of rude jo
W, and insulting caricature; and the t.
ex mony Of the woman whose honor